The Origins of Thanksgiving: History + Myth (a family style history guide)

Do you want your family to have a better knowledge of the history and myth behind Thanksgiving? Looking for something that contains multiple historical perspectives? Do you want to understand how and why this holiday is celebrated the way it is today?

This family style history guide does just that. It includes 22 lessons designed for upper elementary through middle school with optional deep dives to capture the interest of highschoolers and adults. There are also a handful of books that would engage the younger children. These lessons include living books, documentaries and primary sources that your family can explore. 

This guide contains so much more than the traditional Thanksgiving holiday guide out there. It will dive into the actual history of the holiday and explore why the myth was created. It begins by exploring the history of the Wampanoag people before and at the time of colonization. Then it will take you on to learn about the Separatists and their arrival in the Americas and their interaction with the Wampanoag. You will read primary source documents about the first Thanksgivings and explore the reasons behind those events. Then it will take you on a historic journey to discover how America created the holiday and the traditions of Thanksgiving. The study ends by learning about the Native American's views on the holiday and then with a project where your children get to present their own thoughts on the holiday.